I'll explain later.....

[Uncle Al]

Well, it's later. My mother-in-law came home after 5 1/2 weeks in
the hospital. She's been home for 2 weeks. She refuses to eat.
There are days where the lights are on, but the vacancy sign is lit.
There are days where the lights are off and days where you'd never
know there was a problem.

The visiting nurse said today was the first time she thought that
'mom' showed signs of dementia. This is not good. My father-in-law
is going to call the neuro-surgeon who implanted the shunt in her
brain to schedule an appointment. There is a possibility that the
shunt has become clogged. If it is not clogged, then the Dr. will try
to open the valve to allow a greater drainage of spinal fluid off the
brain. Then, hopefully, 'moms' mental capability will improve.

This is why I haven't posted much lately as I'm one of the care
givers.

Oh-Well, Off to the races

Uncle Al

[skirtedpilot]

My Prayers will be with you.

[Skirt Chaser]

Sending hugs your way, Al.

[Since1982]

Enjoy as much as you can of "mom" while you have her. My mom, who passed away in '99 went thru 2 years of full blown Alzheimers..She had no clue most of the time who I was, if I touched her she shrieked and drew away as if I were a rapist. The last 3 months of her life she screamed "Skip" at the top of her lungs but had no association between me and the word "Skip". Her commonest statement to me was "Who the hell are you?"

The day she died, I arrived as the doctor had called me at home and said: get here quick if you want to talk to her before she passes...I said: What's the use, she has no clue who I am..The Doc replied, Skip, she's lucid and asking for you, we've asked her to describe you and she has done so. You might have an hour with the mother you remember but she's passing fast. The pneumonia is getting worse.

I got stopped by a cop for speeding who gave me an escort to the hospital and we got there in time for me to talk to, embrace and pour out my love for the only living relative I had left. The doctor was correct, for the last 4 hours of her life the Alzheimers was gone and I had my mom back. Then she passed away in my arms.

I couldn't have given this account a year ago, it's finally starting to become a memory instead of a happening. Simply typing it now has me weeping and blowing.

Unc, take good care of her no matter how much unlike what you remember she becomes..she might bless you with an hour or two of lucidity like my mom did for me.

[Uncle Al]

Thanks for the support folks

This is really tearing up my wife
She is having a hard time seeing her mom this way

She helped me through the loss of my own mother 3 years ago.

As a side note - I may have a lead on a new 'part-time'
job. I'm going to check it out tomorrow morning. Then
I'll have afternoon/evening 'duty' at my in-laws.

Take care

Uncle Al

[Skirt Chaser]

Al, http://www.caring.com/ has been a great caregiver resource for me. You might find the burnout sections in particular good for you and your wife.

Skip, those four hours were an amazing gift. I am glad you had that time with your mother.